Behind the Scenes

See how Ear-Shot Productions created the characters, concept and animation for Payroll Loans. From script to storyboard, concept to completion, follow along to see how the first of three ads were created.

1. Initial Meeting
2. Concept Development and Treatment
3. Execution
4. Script
5. Storyboards
6. Models
7. Voiceover
8. Final Product

1. The Client/ Initial Meeting
Payroll Loans is a financial services company that provides cash advance loans to their customers until their next payday. They currently have 14 locations throughout Canada with other limited operations also in the United States. The company was looking for an ad that would be appealing to the public but would also get their core message across, which could be summed up as follows: As long as you have a job, you can get up to $500 cash in advance of your next payday.

2. Concept development and treatment
Our creative team came up with several concepts but felt our strongest idea focused around doing a spoof on professional wrestling. Two opposing characters were created, CashFlow Joe (our hero) and Money TruBILLz (his arch enemy) who would be forever locked in mortal combat in the ring. Their rivalry would focus on Money TruBILLz who is always trying to beat CashFlow Joe not just by brute force but by getting him into financial trouble, usually by presenting him with a bill while in the middle of a match. To get himself out of such a perilous situation, CashFlow Joe would utilize Payroll Loans in order to win the day.

3. Execution
Our creative team felt that because we were doing a spoof on professional wrestling, an industry that many consider "over the top" already, that the best way to execute the creative would be by using 3D computer generated animation. 3D animation would allow us the creative freedom of making the outrageous world of professional wrestling, even more so.

4. The Script
The next step in the process was to develop the scripts for each of the ads. It is from the script that the concept can begin to be visualized allowing the animators to get an idea of how the ad will be framed scene by scene. The script centers around two wrestling announcers, whom you never actually see - only hear, calling the play by play of the match.

5. The Storyboards
Once the script has been created, storyboards were developed fit each line. Click here to see the storyboards.

6. The 3D Models
It is at this stage that our ideas of the look of each character were debated and worked on. Click here to see 3D models. Add 3D models file

7. Recording the Voiceover
Next in the process was to record the audio voiceover so that the animators could compose and time the animation to fit each line of the script. Click here to listen to the voiceovers.

8. The final product
Based on the storyboards, each scene was animated to fit within the 30 second timeframe with sound effects added to complete the ad. See the the final ad.
Click here for Windows Media version
Click here for Quicktime version